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ABOUT BACK TO BLUE

Sep 2021 | Reading time: 3mins

‘Back To Blue’ marries Economist Impact’s global audience and its reputation for objective, independent analysis with The Nippon Foundation’s global reputation for supporting ocean science, data and evidence. This unique initiative aims to have a measurable impact on ocean health.

Why Should We Care About the Ocean?

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The ocean is Earth’s largest ecosystem and faces critical challenges. Human activities and climate change impacts are undermining global fisheries, changing the chemistry of the ocean, threatening coastal ecosystems and putting at risk hard-won economic progress in developing countries and small island developing states. Global action to address these challenges is underway, but much more is needed if we are to restore the ocean to health and build a sustainable ocean economy.

The Nippon Foundation has played a key role in transforming our scientific knowledge of the ocean, in addressing sustainability and plastics pollution, and in engaging young people and educational institutes in building awareness of the ocean and the need for better management and protection. Economist Impact through the World Ocean Summit & Initiative has succeeded in bringing the ocean to a wider global audience and stakeholders, encouraging the public and private sectors and civil society to collaborate, and helping catalyse the transition to sustainable practices and governance among businesses and governments.

THE PLASTICS MANAGEMENT INDEX

THE PLASTICS MANAGEMENT INDEX

The Plastics Management Index measures, compares and contrasts the efforts made by a selection of 25 countries at different stages of development.

MARINE CHEMICAL POLLUTION: THE INVISIBLE WAVE

MARINE CHEMICAL POLLUTION: THE INVISIBLE WAVE

A landmark research by Back to Blue – an initiative between Economist Impact and the Nippon Foundation – to understand the scale and scope of ocean chemical pollution, and the ways to tackle this growing crisis.

Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification poses an existential threat to many forms of marine life, and thus to food chains, livelihoods and economies. What is it, and what can we do to avoid its worst impacts?

In January 2021, the Back To Blue initiative undertook two related surveys—one of industry and public-sector executives, the other of the general public (global citizens)—to better understand their views and priorities around key ocean issues. The survey was conducted to provide a reference point for the Back to Blue initiative among the global audience we expect to be engaging, as well as to seek feedback on the direction and relevance of the initiative, and to help us gauge progress towards our goals.

Since its establishment in 2021, Back to Blue has emphasised its activities around ocean pollution and promoting ocean health- specifically around the issues of plastic pollution, chemical pollution, and ocean acidification. The initiative’s direction was shaped by a Back to Blue survey conducted in January 2021, which revealed that 83% of the general public expressed either “concern” or “very concerned” about issues affecting the ocean. Respondents identified the top three priorities for restoring ocean health over the next five years as tackling plastic pollution (59.6%), chemical pollution (39.1%), and climate change (31.1%).

Much good work has already been accomplished in these areas, but there remain significant gaps where knowledge or opportunity for action would benefit from the unique attributes and voice of a partnership between a global media organisation and a foundation recognized for its global leadership on the ocean. The partnership will set objectives that are measurable and actionable, thereby accelerating global action.

THE SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT

THE SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT

With less than ten years to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, there is a renewed urgency to examine global systems and balance human aspirations with the planet’s ability to sustain them. This is why Economist Impact has launched The Sustainability Project, a content platform and community hub combining insights, innovation and influence. Our aim is to convene and engage global stakeholders who have the power to bring real change.

WORLD OCEAN INITIATIVE

WORLD OCEAN INITIATIVE

Economist Impact's World Ocean Initiative imagines an ocean in robust health, and with a vital economy. Year-round and at our flagship World Ocean Summit, we foster a global conversation on the greatest challenges facing the seas, inspiring bold thinking, new partnerships and the most effective action to build a sustainable ocean economy.

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An initiative of
Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation

Back to Blue is an initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, two organisations that share a common understanding of the need to improve evidence-based approaches and solutions to the pressing issues faced by the ocean, and to restoring ocean health and promoting sustainability